How many of you have service tattoos? And what are your thoughts on them?

After I received my Combat Medic MOS, I got a caduceus tattoo on my right arm. I am proud of it, I will always be part of the medical corps.

The one and only ink I will ever have. Until the next one....

I postponed getting one for much too long, now my skin is so saggy, it would be impossible for a tat to remain stable and not end up sagging too.

Sgt Seth Welch I consider my tattoos service and serious; and others may consider their tattoos service related as well based on their perception. On one arm I Have my deployment tattoo and the my Brigade Coin/Motto tattoo as well. On the other I have an eagle which represents what I retired as (Full Bird), my wife's name, and recently just added the name of my three daughters and their month and birth year. Now those are service and serious tattoos for me! Next on the other forearm I'm adding: US Army in BOLD on the outside and on the inside the Warriors Creed (as depicted in the example), but it will different in many ways!

I am a heavily tattooed person.. some are military themed.. most are just what I call my portable art collection. All mine are old school/traditional type.
But I did find myself at awe at a fellow SM I was at AT with that had them on his neck and hands/fingers. It just looked so weird to see someone like that in uniform. I couldn't stop staring, I just wanted to read him like a picture book !
My husband is AD Air Force and has no tattoos.. we definitely look like the odd couple on a hot day.
There is one person I serve with who has one on his neck that just looks straight rogue along with the ear gauges he has to leave out in uniform.
Maybe I'm the pot calling the kettle here but I don't have any on my hands or the sides of my neck.
I love a nice piece of art. I just feel bad for those who have really ugly/poorly done ink.
Thank you Army for lifting your tattoo regs. Hooah !

As drunk as I got and got drunk a lot never got a tattoo,no guts I guess,besides with my skinny arms and Barney Fife build ithey wouldn't make much of a statement.

I believe that it's up to the individual. Some that I've seen come across as a little over the top, but again, it's up to the individual. I got this one after Grenada in "84". My first "Combat Patch".

I wasn't allowed a tattoo while in. It was considered an identifying mark by SF. Now that I'm out I have no desire to have one.
If you do want one while in; don't be like the kid beside me in formation on the first day of Jump School. We were in our T-shirts and one of the blackhats noticed a bandage on this kid. This blackhat asked what happened and the kid told him the truth. He had a tattoo of Jump Wings on his arm. Long story short...don't ever get a tattoo for an award you haven't earned yet. Life will go a lot easier for you.
The kid? He made it. He turned into a pushup champ.

I have seen some badass service tattoos. That being said, I have also seen more service tats that are just plain corny.

USMC Bulldog on right bicep. Got it on my 18th birthday in Oceanside in 1973 shortly before heading overseas the first time.